00:25 - KarlabosMost videos are all about just adding random images to the song though, so...

00:22 - KarlabosSome videos aren't bad. But an ok video is not a good video. A good video would be something that adds to the song. In a way after you've seen it you can't help but to feel only listening to the song isn't enough anymore

23:53 - ApothecaryI mean welcome to artists trying to be theatrical lol there's always going to be some degree of cheese in music videos, even if it's .0001% cheese

Disc I01. Birth Of The Three (The Unification)02. Ocean Land (The Revelation)03. The Kiss Of Babylon (The Sins)04. A'salk05. Halo Dies (The Wrath Of God)06. A Call To Awake (The Quest)07. Building The Ark08. Norra El Norra (Entering The Ark)09. The Calm Before The Flood10. Mabool (The Flood)11. The Storm Still Rages Inside12. Rainbow (The Resurrection)

Disc II[The Calm Before The Flood][Limited Edition Live Acoustic CD]01. The Evil Urge02. A Never Ending Way03. Mercy [Paradise Lost cover]04. The Beloved's Cry05. The Orphaned's Medley

Forget everything you know about genres. I'm used of talking about the sound of a band at the beginning of a review. But this album can't be described just by mere genre definitions. They are said to play a mixture of Progressive Death Metal with Arabic folk. But, what exactly is Progressive Death? It sounds like Death? Opeth? Orphaned Land sounds, at it's core, like Progressive Metal, with unusual song structures, technical use of instruments, and no choruses at all. Add to that a constant use of Arabic folk music, with male and female chanting, use of local instruments and riffing that resembles their music. Then add that minimal death mixture, used as some growling, which doesn't stop the beauty of the album, and the sound of some riffs, making them extremely thick and heavy.

With that description alone anyone that loves diverse music should order this album. But what about the songwriting? This is a concept album about three sons, each one representing each monotheistic religion trying to warm humanity of a flood that will punish the world. So their music manages to match the lyrics. A proof may be the song "Halo Dies (The Wrath Of God)," where they use growls to represent the fury of God.

Also notice how the album begins strong, with songs like "Birth of the Three (The Unification)," "The Kiss of Babylon (The Sins)," and "Halo Dies (The Wrath Of God),", which are able to make you headband 'till death, even with Arabic chanting at the same time. I don't know what people say, but the chanting on "The Kiss of Babylon (The Sins)" it's amazing, and one of the best moments of the album.

But the direction of the album changes completely at "Building The Ark." That it's an acoustic song, featuring an amazing vocal delivery, ending with an outstanding acoustic guitar outro. "Norra El Norra (Entering the Ark)" it's the most Arabic song, and believe me: I hate Arabic music, yet I really like this song. Even though it has the last heavy riff, it doesn't have any growling. It ends with an amazing piano solo. So the album begins heavy to get your attention, and ends softer. "Mabool (The Flood)" still has some growls, but in my opinion it's the most melodic song. That guitar riffing, along with those amazing vocals are really haunting. They really saved the best song for the end. After that, it comes "The Storm Still Rages," which flows perfectly with the previous song. To me, it's like a big outro, along with the last song.

Really, this it's a musical journey you can't avoid. Musically and lyrically, it's almost perfect. If you aren't very open minded, songs like "A'salk," "Norra El Norra (Entering the Ark)" and "The Calm Before the Flood," which may feel a bit overlong, may annoy you. This album is far beyond ordinary metal. Death metal fans, avoid this: it's not for you. Folk metal fans: this it's very different than typical folk metal, probably because there is almost no Arabic folk metal, so you may like this, or maybe not. Progressive metal fans: Take this. Now.

After a too long waiting of eight years, the oriental sun is finally shining again on your heads. My friends one of the most innovative and fantastic band from Israel is back with a new album that we can already call legend. "Mabool, the Story of the Three Sons of Seven" is the fourth album of the band, and even if their others album are damn great, I must just say that this time the band knew how to do something that everyone can like and fore sure will not be able to forget.

Nice review, GREAT album.
It has such a well develloped story that goes along perfectly with the music. They also put together the clean vocals and the doom metal vocals so well! Buy this album! its one of the best prog metal albums i've ever listened to.:metal:

This album and this band are so underrated. They are not given the credit they deserve as musicians. I dont know what impresses me the most, the music or the lyrics. I know that in the end I want more...

Still, there is other review in their MA page who fits better among my feelings towards Orphaned Land. The guy was rather rigorous to Mabool when it comes to rating, but I also find this album boring and unmemorable (even for a prog work). Five spins and still nothing, no riff memorized, no moment of climax, just good and perfectly polished notes of Progressive Metal, sure, with vocal variations and oriental instrumental, but boring nonetheless. IMO

''Building the ark'' and ''Norra el Norra'' (which lacks the horrible death metal vocals) are the most interesting song by far.

----
----member of the true crusade against old school heavy metal, early 80s thrash, NWOBHM, traditional doom, first and second wave black metal, old school death metal, US power metal, 70s prog rock and atmospheric doomsludgestoner. o/